Mohsen Rabei, former Asian champion in pole vault, in an interview with Mehr News Agency, discussed the condition of the national athletics team sent to the Asian Games, stating: "I prefer not to talk about medal chances before the competitions as it may affect the athletes' performance. I hope the kids can achieve acceptable results."
Need for More Facilities for Athletes
Rabei pointed out the limited opportunities for athletes to utilize the facilities during training camps, noting: "In total, 11 athletes were in a camp situation, but I believe more athletes could have benefited from these facilities to have more opportunities to be part of the national team and showcase their abilities."
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Need for Accurate Selection of National Team Members
The former Asian champion also commented on the selection process of the national team members, saying: "In my opinion, the team selection should be done by the technical committee, not the executive committee. The technical committee should be responsible for selecting the athletes and should defend its decisions. Just as there is encouragement, there should also be accountability regarding selections."
Rabei discussed the Belarus training camp and the planning of the athletics federation, stating: "No precise information has been published about the federation's approach and the goals of this camp. We do not know what plans are in place for participation in competitions and the preparation of the team, and why Belarus was chosen."
Criticism of Lack of Transparency
He criticized the lack of transparency in the federation's programs, saying: "The schedule for the national championship, league, and grassroots competitions should be specified and communicated in advance. Unfortunately, there is no clear planning in this regard, and it is unclear what the federation's roadmap for the development of athletics is."
Rabei also commented on the status of various events in this sport, stating: "When competitions are not held for different disciplines, athletes do not have the opportunity to test themselves. If there is no competitive environment, the disciplines gradually decline and disappear."
Need to Pay Attention to All Disciplines
Rabei highlighted the existing potentials in Iranian athletics, stating: "In the past, we have won Asian medals in disciplines such as pole vault, throws, and decathlon. We cannot prioritize a few disciplines and neglect others. Athletics is a collection of various events, and to advance it, attention must be given to all sections."
He concluded by saying: "I hope the national team achieves good results in the Asian Games. After the competitions, we can analyze the team's performance and technical decisions more accurately and discuss its strengths and weaknesses."
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